Melbourne (AFP) - British stayer Deauville Legend heads into Tuesday's Melbourne Cup as strong favourite at Australia's "race that stops a nation", but rain and even hail could put a dampener on proceedings.
Held on the first Tuesday of November since 1876, the punishing 3,200 metre (two-mile) handicap was limited to 10,000 fans last year because of Covid-19, but 100,000 are expected at Flemington on Tuesday for a traditional boozy day out.
They could face a soggy time with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a 90 percent chance of showers, even a thunderstorm and hail, leading to a soft and possibly heavy track.
Regarded as the ultimate test of stamina and staying power, the Melbourne Cup has Aus$8 million (US$6 million) at stake with the winner of the 23-strong field banking Aus$4.4 million.
Deauville Legend is favourite to cross the line first, firming in the betting after second-favourite Loft was withdrawn on Friday with a tendon injury after failing a pre-race examination.
Caulfield Cup winner Durston also pulled out after failing a pre-race scan, leaving champion jockey Damien Oliver without a ride.
Deauville Legend has the added bonus of having three-time Cup winner Kerrin McEvoy (Brew in 2000, Almandin in 2016, and Cross Counter in 2018) in the saddle of the four-year-old gelding.
He drew perfectly in barrier nine as McEvoy attempts to equal Bobbie Lewis and Harry White's record of four Melbourne Cup wins and hand Hong Kong-based owner Bon Ho a first victory.
"I'm really happy because I didn't want him to draw wide or too low and be stuck in the inside," said trainer James Ferguson, whose horse won the Great Voltigeur Stakes in York in August by three lengths.
"It's exactly what we needed so we can get a nice position behind the leaders and have a good run.
"But it's an extremely competitive race."
'We're full of hope'
The weather could be a factor meaning horses with form on soft and heavy ground, including Gold Trip, Stockman, Montefilia and Arapaho, come into the equation.
Ferguson pinpointed English Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal as a threat, along with French stallion Gold Trip.
"You've got a lot of really good horses here," he said."Obviously we're full of hope but it's a horse race at the end of the day and everything has to go right."
Five-year-old Australian mare Montefilia is currently co-second favourite alongside Realm Of Flowers and Without A Fight.
Four-time Group One winner Montefilia is making a first attempt at 3,200m, but females don't boast a great Cup strike rate -- 38 have run since 2005 and last year's winner, Verry Elleegant, was the only one to have finished in the top three.
"She should get two miles, easily," said trainer David Payne.
Like last year, when stringent new veterinary checks and the pandemic kept a lot of international raiders away, it is again a field dominated by Australian-trained horses.
Whoever wins will instantly become a household name in Australia.The race is a cultural institution with the day considered so important it is declared a public holiday in its host state of Victoria.
